Chick-fil-A’s own page says its mac and cheese is baked in the restaurant so a crispy layer of baked cheese forms on top. A copycat needs a cheesy sauce, elbow macaroni and a hot oven or broiler. Here’s one home version, and why the copycats disagree.
This is a home version. Chick-fil-A doesn’t publish its recipe, so nothing here claims an exact match. What you get is a creamy bake with a browned cheese top, and you can pull it together in about 40 minutes!
What is actually in Chick-fil-A mac and cheese?
Per Chick-fil-A’s menu page, it’s a blend of Parmesan, Cheddar and Romano, baked in the restaurant to form a crispy top layer of cheese. The ingredient list we read also names American cheese spread, Montamore and Asiago.
That list matters because the copycats don’t agree with it. Most use a stovetop sauce and skip the less common cheeses, so you won’t match the list exactly. Montamore isn’t easy to find in a regular grocery store, so you’ll want to swap in whatever melts well.
| Source | Cheeses named | How it finishes |
|---|---|---|
| Chick-fil-A menu page | Parmesan, Cheddar, Romano; ingredient list also names American cheese spread, Montamore, Asiago | Baked in the restaurant, crispy cheese top |
| Allie Carte copycat | American slices, cheddar, Colby Jack, a little Parmesan | Stovetop sauce, then broil 5 min |
| I’m Hungry For That copycat | American, sharp and mild cheddar; Parmesan and Romano optional | Bake at 400°F for 10 min |
So the two copycats we read lean on cheddar and American cheese, and make Parmesan and Romano a small extra. Chick-fil-A’s own page puts Parmesan, Cheddar and Romano first. That’s why we use all three in the version below.
Chick-fil-A mac and cheese ingredients
- 12 ounces dry elbow macaroni
- 2 cups whole milk
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 4 slices American cheese, torn
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar, plus ¾ cup for the top
- 1 cup shredded Colby Jack
- 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan, plus 1 tablespoon for the top
- 1 tablespoon grated Romano
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon paprika
You’ll also need a 2 quart baking dish. The amounts are our own, built from the overlap in the two copycats and the cheeses on Chick-fil-A’s page. We haven’t cooked this exact version.
How do you make Chick fil A mac and cheese at home?
Warm the milk, melt in the butter and cheeses on low heat, then fold in just-underdone macaroni. Pour it into a greased dish, top it with cheddar and Parmesan, and bake hot until bubbly. Finish under the broiler for a browned top.
- Heat the oven to 400°F and grease the baking dish.
- Cook the macaroni about 1 minute short of the package time. Drain it well.
- Warm the milk in a large pot over medium heat until hot but not boiling, then turn the heat to low.
- Stir in the butter, American cheese, 2 cups cheddar, Colby Jack, 2 tablespoons Parmesan and the Romano. Stir every minute or so, scraping the bottom, until smooth.
- Season with the salt, pepper and paprika, then fold in the macaroni.
- Pour it into the dish and scatter the ¾ cup cheddar and 1 tablespoon Parmesan on top.
- Bake 10 to 12 minutes, until bubbling at the edges. Broil 1 to 2 minutes for the browned top, and watch it closely!
- Rest it 5 minutes, then serve.
The baking window comes from the two copycats. I’m Hungry For That bakes at 400°F for 10 minutes and says to broil 1 to 2 minutes for a deeper crust. Allie Carte broils for 5 minutes after a stovetop sauce, so check yours sooner if your broiler runs hot.
How do you keep the sauce creamy instead of grainy?
Melt the cheese over low heat and stir. Both copycats warn that high heat can curdle the sauce. I’m Hungry For That melts the American cheese first, then the cheddar, and says to grate cheddar from a block rather than a bag.
Pre-shredded cheese carries anti-caking powder, and that site says it keeps cheese from melting smoothly. Allie Carte also says to pull the pasta out about a minute early, since it keeps cooking in the sauce. Ever bitten into mushy mac and cheese? That’s usually overcooked pasta.
Can you make it ahead?
Yes. Allie Carte says to add a little more milk, since the dish dries out as it sits, cover it, then reheat at 350°F for about 30 minutes and broil to brown. I’m Hungry For That says the casserole can be assembled a few hours ahead, with 5 to 7 extra minutes of baking.
Making it ahead helps you on a busy holiday, when the oven is spoken for. Fewer last-minute jobs! Our turkey calculator shows when the oven frees up.
Does Chick-fil-A still have mac and cheese, and what size is it?
Chick-fil-A’s menu page lists it as a side, but we can’t check your local restaurant, so you may want to call ahead. Southern Living reports a kid’s meal with a medium mac and cheese, a small side, a drink and a prize. One r/ChickFilA commenter explains how to tell sizes apart:
“There’s a trick. Anything medium is in a white container, anything small or large are in red containers. This goes for Mac and cheese, fries, fruit cups, soup, etc.”
– r/ChickFilA (100 upvotes)
That’s one person’s account, not a rule from the company. Another commenter in the same thread says the Chick-fil-A app shows ingredients and nutrition at the bottom of any item, which is the easier place to look.
What do you serve with it?
It’s rich, so you’ll want to pair it with something plain and savory. Our 35 mac and cheese pairings cover mains and sides. For another stovetop-style restaurant copycat, there’s our Panera mac and cheese recipe. For a holiday table, see the Christmas side dishes matched to your main course.
Chick-fil-A mac and cheese questions people ask
What’s the best cheese for this?
A meltable cheddar plus American cheese is the common base in both copycats we read. I’m Hungry For That says American cheese helps keep the sauce smooth, so keep at least some in the mix. Add Parmesan and Romano for the flavor Chick-fil-A’s page names.
How do you store and reheat leftovers?
I’m Hungry For That says leftovers keep 3 to 4 days in an airtight container in the fridge. Reheat at 350°F for about 10 minutes, or microwave in 20 second bursts.
Can you make it gluten-free?
I’m Hungry For That says to use gluten-free elbow macaroni and check your cheese labels. Allie Carte notes Chick-fil-A’s own version is not gluten-free.